The Oyo State Government has defended its recent demolition of buildings purportedly belonging to Yoruba Nation agitators, citing a court order as the basis for its action.
Speaking on behalf of the government, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey, and Urban Development, William Akin-Funmilayo, who spoke at the sites of the demolished buildings located separately at Shagari area, Toye Oyesola Street, Boluwaji and at Zone 4, Irorun Oluwa Community, Fatusi Ayegun road, Odo Dudu area, both in Oluyole Local Government Area, Ibadan.
Akin-Funmilayo stressed the importance of residents promptly reporting any suspicious or threatening activity to the appropriate authorities.
The demolition came in the wake of heightened tensions, with 29 suspects arraigned for treasonable felony and other offenses just a day prior.
The demolition, executed on April 16, 2024, followed an invasion of the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, by alleged Yoruba Nation agitators on April 7, 2024.
Acting on a court order, the state government took action against the buildings reportedly used by the agitators.
The Oyo State Police Command, after conducting investigations, obtained a search warrant to examine the contents of the buildings, revealing incriminating items linked to the self-proclaimed Yoruba nation agitators.
Members of the affected landlord association recounted their efforts to alert law enforcement authorities about suspicious activities in the buildings.
Additionally, the state government demolished a facility suspected of housing illegal miners engaged in processing and packaging lithium.
Located in Idi Ayunre, Oluyole Local Government Area, the facility had previously been ordered closed by Governor Makinde on February 28, 2024, due to its alleged illegal activities.
